
Public anger toward Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass is reaching a boiling point as calls for her resignation grow louder. A petition demanding her immediate recall has now gathered over 86,000 signatures, with residents accusing her of failing to lead during the city’s devastating wildfire crisis.
While destructive wildfires raged across Los Angeles, Bass was thousands of miles away in Ghana, attending a political event. By the time she returned, the fires had already scorched more than 54 square miles, destroyed over 4,000 homes and forced more than 130,000 people to evacuate. At least 11 people have died as firefighters continue to battle multiple blazes.
Karen Bass needs to resign for seriously cutting the fire department budget and going to Ghana instead of being in LA doing her job.
If she doesn’t resign, LA needs to do a recall vote! pic.twitter.com/OImXKVedZH— hpowders (@hpowders24805) January 11, 2025
Frustrated residents accuse Bass of abandoning the city at a critical time, blaming her for inadequate disaster preparedness and poor leadership. The petition criticizes her for not being present during the crisis and for allowing the city’s emergency response systems to fall into disrepair. “Mayor Bass chose to travel abroad while our city burned,” the petition reads.
I’m hesitant to feel optimistic about left-wing Californians calling for resignations from the LA Mayor and Governor Newsom.
In NY, they got rid of Andrew Cuomo and ended up with Kathy Hochul.
In Chicago, they recalled Lori Lightfoot and elected Brandon Johnson.
If it’s up to…
— Jessica 🇺🇸 (@RealJessica05) January 12, 2025
Fueling public outrage are reports that Bass slashed $17.6 million from the Los Angeles Fire Department’s budget for the 2024-25 fiscal year. A leaked memo exposed her plans for an additional $49 million in cuts, which could have led to the closure of 16 fire stations. Critics argue these budget decisions severely weakened the city’s ability to combat wildfires and protect residents.
Oakland recalled our failed progressive puppet mayor and you can too LA!!!! https://t.co/R91pqu17iI
— Seneca Scott (@SenecaSpeaks21) January 11, 2025
Martin Adams, former general manager of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, admitted that the city’s infrastructure was unprepared for a wildfire of this scale. Reports of dry fire hydrants in multiple neighborhoods have left firefighters struggling to access water during critical moments.
Governor Gavin Newsom has since ordered an investigation into Los Angeles’ emergency response and disaster preparedness. However, many residents feel this action comes too late and that Mayor Bass must be held accountable for the widespread destruction and loss of life.
As the fires continue to devastate communities, the pressure on Bass to resign intensifies. Residents are demanding not only her resignation but also a full audit of how taxpayer funds were used for disaster preparedness and emergency response. Many believe it is time for new leadership that prioritizes public safety and ensures Los Angeles is never caught unprepared again.